Prayers...

In April, 2010, when Andrew was 2 1/2, a tumor was discovered behind his eye. The tumor was removed, but it was found to be an aggressive cancer. He endured seven months of chemo and six weeks radiation. In December of 2010, the day after his last treatment, he was rushed to the ER with an almost fatal bacterial infection. He survived.

He is now seven-years-old!! I don't visit here much, because during the ordeal, this is where I dumped everything--my rage, my fear, my sadness, my ugly, my hope, my everything. But I want all of you who supported and prayed for us to hear his updates. You helped me survive, and I am deeply thankful. Every once in awhile, I will check in to let you know how he's doing. Please continue to pray that cancer will never return to his body. Thank you.



Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Update

Week two of Houston:

We have been through 2/30 radiation treatments so far.  The nurse at the radiation treatment center is amazing.  She is in the right job.  She lets Andrew push all of the buttons on his anesthesia medication pump (right before he passes out).  She has a needle for his port which is amazingly unobtrusive (Andrew only notices it when he sees it) and she does his bloodwork, neupogen shots, and cleans his sticky-taped-skin with adhesive remover, all while he is under anesthesia.  Sweet and kind. Hooray for sweet and kind!!

On the other hand, MD Anderson hospital seems to have no concept of time.  Everything seems to take a minimum of three hours.  The opthamologist appointment was at 11.  We left her office at 2:30.  She finally walked in at 2:15, and had apparently not even glanced at Andrew's file because she proceeded to ask her three sycophants for "a brief summary of his case."  Meanwhile John and I were rolling our eyes at her arrogance.  Anything she said was met with a rageful feeling that she had absolutely no respect for us, or our time.  My only space of tolerance for her, and the only reason I did not completely ignore her, is that she may be some genius whose knowledge we may need in the future.  Hopefully not.

Otherwise, Andrew is doing okay. Chemo is scheduled to start again tomorrow.  We are adjusting to Houston and enjoying the frequent rain and thunderstorms, and the slightly cooler weather.  Anything is better than 117 degrees!! Arizona is an oven right now, so we are glad to be missing that. 

When we are not at the hospital, we have been checking out the local museums:




Today we went to a butterfly exhibit and saw a 5 foot flower that is supposed to smell like a corpse when it opens. It's name is Lois. My mom is Lois too. Meet Lois and Lois.
 
On Sunday we went to the Kemah boardwalk and rode some carnival rides. We are making a vacation out of this in our spare moments.





We have received two new hats as well!  One from Nottingham, England!



and one from Virginia!





Thanks for the sweetness. :)

I suppose that was rather rambling, but there you go.  Our week at a glance.

15 comments:

  1. I came accross your blog by luck. Apparantly we both enjoy hiking. I have 2 boys, and a girl, all 5 and under. I was struck by what you and your husband are going through, and I wish you all the best. Your 3 remind me of my 3...they are great looking boys and you all make a great looking family. Good luck with everything.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I'm really very glad that things are progressing... despite arrogant doctors. He looks really good, Julie. You guys are just amazing. I hope you know that. And rain is good to cool things off. I hope you guys squeeze in as much fun and love there as you can. Take care. Always in my prayers.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hip hip hooray for the sweet and kind nurses. I have little tolerance for waiting around in doctors' offices. They have the nerve to tell us to "please reschedule" our appointments if we are 15 minutes late, but they can keep us waiting for hours beyond our scheduled appointment times. *sigh* Glad Andrew is hanging tough along with the rest of you. Sending prayers your way as chemo is about to start again. -EW

    ReplyDelete
  4. I was just thinking of you last night and again this morning, so I was glad to see an update. :)

    You are doing an amazing job of finding joyful things to do with the kids while you are in the middle of all this. Looks like they are having a great time.

    The nurse sounds wonderful. I'm glad she's so gentle with Andrew.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I'm so pleased to hear your new nurse is a kind soul. You ALL deserve that. Especially Andrew. I'm also happy that you are making the best of your trip with your little family. You are in my heart. I think of you and we're complete strangers. Again, Andrew is in my prayers. There is power in that. I'm praying for that, too.

    ReplyDelete
  6. I'm so glad to see an update! And I'm glad that it's full of mostly good stuff!

    Yay for thoughtful nurses and boo for arrogant doctors. Hopefully that's the last you see of her.

    Does that flower ever open?

    ReplyDelete
  7. Hooray for rain and stinky plants and new hats and kind nurses! So glad to hear Andrew is getting some TLC from his care providers, despite the rude eye doctor.

    ReplyDelete
  8. One step at a time right? That nurse sounds like an absolute gem :) I love those sorts of people!! And thank goodness for them!!!
    I am glad that you guys are getting to see the sites and that you are overall doing well!!!
    Thinking of you guys all the time!

    ReplyDelete
  9. I am so glad that you have found such a sweet nurse and that you are finding time to distract you all! Doctors can be such a pain...especially when they have such tudes. Grrr! Take care! XXOO

    ReplyDelete
  10. Lois and Lois = sheer awesomeness! I'm glad to see you guys having fun in the midst of it!

    ReplyDelete
  11. What a remarkable nurse! What a huge change. Sorry you're wasting away in the drs office... That's so frustrating.

    Oodelally! That hat is so cool. You'll have to watch Disney's Robin Hood! That was my favourite movie when I was a kid.

    Glad things are going well overall.... Praying for you!

    ReplyDelete
  12. love the hats and God bless that nurse! Prayers coming all the time :)

    ReplyDelete
  13. Hey! I guess this answers my question about the flower!
    http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/38376749

    ReplyDelete
  14. Dear Julie, I found your blog through the you capture link. Just wanted to let you know that I will be keeping your family in my thoughts and Prayers, I hope that the collective Prayers of many will give you strength. PS. I would love to send a hat from Australia - just let me know Kelli.M.Davies@gmail.com , with love, Kelli.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Yeah for a good nurse! I wish I was closer! We are in Dallas and have the WORLDS best pediatric opthamologist! (My three year old is having eye surgery Sept 1st)

    Your family is in my prayers! I will have to find you a hat from here to send. :)

    Holly

    ReplyDelete

Your thoughts...